title: GABAB receptor gene transfer into the nucleus tractus solitarii induces chronic blood pressure elevation in normotensive rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing evidence indicates that GABAergic neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) play a significant role in the arterial baroreceptor reflex and control of cardiovascular homeostasis. However, the role of these neurons in the development of hypertension is not yet fully clear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, we first confirmed that GABAB receptor (GBR) expression is enhanced in the NTS of SHR as compared with WKY rats using real-time RT-PCR and western blots. To study the functional consequence of upregulated GBR expression, GBR was overexpressed in the NTS by bilateral microinjection of the AAV2-GBR1 viral vector into the NTS of WKY rats. Immunofluorescence staining and western blots demonstrated that microinjection of AAV2-GBR1 into the NTS of WKY rats resulted in a significant increase in GBR1 expression in the NTS neurons. Overexpression of GBR in the NTS induced a chronic elevation in blood pressure and heart rate in the normotensive WKY rats. In an acute study, the pressor response to baclofen microinjected into the NTS was enhanced in SHR as compared with WKY rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GBR1 expression is enhanced in the NTS of SHR vs. WKY rats and overexpression of this gene in the NTS results in chronic elevation of blood pressure and heart rate in normotensive rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chengluan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Lirong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ruofan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Kexiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chengwen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017704:Baroreflex; D000229:Dependovirus; D059330:GABAergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000235:genetics; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D018080:Receptors, GABA-B